Nihilists and Advaitins - name and form

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The article below is from 'Letters from Sri Ramanasramam' by Srimati Suri

Nagamma, published by the Ashram (taken from 1995 edition). Although the events

took place almost 60 years ago, like most (if not all) Bhagavan stories, it

seems to maintain a poignancy which transcends time and environment.

8th February, 1948

Nihilists and Advaitins

When I went into the hall this morning, everything was quiet. The smoke of the

incense-sticks enveloped the whole atmosphere and a sweet smell was emanating

from all sides. Bhagavan had finished reading the newspapers and was sitting in

a calm attitude. Krishnaswami was winding the clock. Unexpectedly someone asked,

'Nihilists and Advaitins go on arguing among themselves without end. What

exactly are their differences?'

The clock struck the hours 'Tung, Tung.' With a smile, Bhagavan said, ''You want

to know the differences of opinion? Look here. Just now, the clock has been

wound; it has been working and has struck the hours. 'There must be someone to

wind the clock; otherwise the clock will not work,' say the Advaitins. 'It is

admitted that there must be someone to wind the clock; there must then be

someone to give the power or the ability to that someone, and so on. If we

proceed on that basis, there will be no beginning and no end, and so there is

no such person as 'doer' (Karta),' say the Nihilists. These are the differences

of opinion. For instance, take this towel. It is not separate from the cotton.

What does that mean? The cotton is first changed into seedless cotton, then

into yarn and finally into cloth. For doing all that there must be someone, and

so the weaver is called the 'doer', and it is admitted that the various colours

and varieties of cloth are not different from the basic thing, namely, the

cotton. In the same manner, the Advaitins say that though there is a 'doer' for

the innumerable varieties that go to make up the world, none of them is

different from that which Is, namely, Existence (Sat). There must be pots­­big

and small­­but they are all mere earth. If anyone of them gets broken, we say

that the pot is lost. But what is it that is lost? Only the name and form. When

name and form are lost, the earth still remains, as earth. But then, pots can

only be made if there is a potter. So the Advaitins say there is a 'doer' as an

efficient cause. Nihilists say, 'No'. Arguments increase but the net result is

zero. There will be no difficulties if they find out who it is that is

arguing.''

''Why then all these arguments?'' said the questioner.

''That is because all which is inside of a person must come out. There will be

several thoughts inside,'' said Bhagavan.

One of the devotees who heard this said, ''What, Bhagavan? You say that which is

inside will always come out. How will it come out? What is there inside?''

Bhagavan smilingly said, ''Unless there is something inside, how can anything

come out? Unless some desire is born inside, nothing appears outside. Desire is

born inside only. It develops into a big thing and come out ultimately.''

--

"ekam sat vipraa bahudhaa vadanti

That which exists is One; sages call it by various names."